General inspection of the libraries

The General inspection of libraries (IGB) is a Service of inspection French carrying on its activity in the field of the Bibliothèques S. It concerns the Ministère of Higher education and of Research but it is also with the service of the ministry for the Culture, which delivers its opinion on the management of the service. It also can, with the agreement of the two ministers on which it depends, to intervene in other ministries.

Insepction general of the libraries is governed by.

History

The first general inspector of the libraries of France was named by Louis XVIII on June 1st 1822. At the beginning, the inspector was thus single, but thereafter of other inspectors were named simultaneously. In 1878 two posts of “general inspectors of the popular and school libraries are created”.

The inspection of the libraries was united starting from 1884, with that of the Archives (which had been created in 1853), under the terms of the decree of March 21st, under the name of General inspection of the libraries and the files of France. It is then envisaged four people for the whole of these inspections.

This situation lasts until in 1945, when the decree of September 13rd founds general inspectors of the libraries and public reading. The general inspectors constituted for a long time a body distinct from the public office.

With the reform of 1992, the body of the general inspectors of the libraries was put in extinction and they are from now on preserving libraries, having reached at least the rank of conservative as a chief, which are named general inspectors.

Organization

The IGB includes/understands ten general inspectors of which one, indicated by the two ministers, carries the title of senior. The IGB produces each year an annual report on its activity, on line since 1995.

Role

The role of the general inspection of the libraries is divided into three main missions.

Inspection of the public libraries

The name even of inspection indicates that the inspectors are charged to supervise and to evaluate the public libraries. The establishments concerned are the public libraries, the departmental libraries of loan and the college libraries.

The inspection is sometimes required respectively by the common , the department or the university on which the library depends, but can also be done on the initiative of the IGB or of the ministers. The college libraries are inspected in theory before the concluding of each four-year contract between the State and the university. The general inspectors of the libraries can make remarks and suggest reforms; on the other hand they do not have being able of sanction.

Support with the management and the training of the librarians

The personnel of the public Bibliothèque S Frenchwomen is managed by the administration (ministry, communities), but the general inspectors of the libraries intervene to help it in this task. In certain cases, they appear more neutral and can thus more easily arbitrate.

the jurys of the recruitment competition of the Bibliothécaire S of all bodies are generally chaired by an general inspector of the libraries.
the general inspectors of the libraries intervene in the initial training and continuous of the Bibliothécaire S, in particular of category has (preserving and librarians). They can thus give courses to the 3Ecole Nationale Sup3erieure of the information sciences and libraries, frame memories of studies and evaluate reports/ratios of training courses.
the general inspectors of the libraries often take part in the commissions charged to deliver opinions on the Bibliothécaire S at the time of various events of their career (change, change of position, etc).
the general inspectors of the libraries intervene sometimes as mediators to solve professional conflicts in which librarians are implied.
They also intervene in the disciplinary proceedings.

Missions of study and council

The general inspection of the libraries carries out also missions of study, evaluation, expertise, council in the field of the public Bibliothèque S. It does it, either of its own initiative, or at the request of the ministers. These studies can relate to varied subjects: the written inheritance, intercommunality and libraries, the organization of the college libraries of Ile-de-France or the recruitment and formation of the Librarian S. Moreover, the general inspectors of the libraries on the matter belong to boards of directors of some public corporations having a competence, which they are autonomous libraries or establishments of higher education.

Sources

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